Gift Sets The "Button in Ear" - a worldwide trademark of unmistakeable quality In 1904 Franz Steiff, Margarete’s nephew was looking for a way to protect Steiff products from imitation. His great idea later became the epitome of quality and handiwork: a metal button in the ear as a protection label. Initially engraved with an elephant motive, the metal button soon wore the trademark and therefore became inseparable with the brand. "Steiff - Button in Ear" is a world wide renowned and unique trademark, which still stands for quality, richness of ideas and entrepreneurial spirit. Steiff, German teddy bear manufacturer Steiff History In 1893, a German seamstress named Margarete Steiff , founded a company that bears her name, and nowadays is the leader in plush teddy bears. Margarete's nephew Richard designed the first soft bear for his aunt, whose factory produced all kinds of toys at that time. Richard's idea for the bear came from the drawings he made from animals at the Stuttgart Zoo. Steiff began making teddy bears as early as 1892, but the teddy bears, the company would become famous for, were made around the turn of the century.

Among the zoo animals that Richard Steiff designed in 1902, was a bear with jointed arms and legs and it was code named 55PB . In 1903, the company sold 3,000 bears to Hermann Berg, a representative of Geo Borgfelt & Co., New York, USA. But otherwise there were not many Steiff animals sold. In America, however, the teddy bear was used by Clifford Berryman in his cartoon about President Theodore Roosevelt. This caused a run on teddy bears and this became the start of the bestselling toy by Steiff ever. In 1904, Richard Steiff travelled to the World's Fair in St. Louis, USA, where he discovered a bear craze. The Steiff bear won the "Grand Prix" at the exposition, while Richard and his aunt Margarete received a gold medal. Because of this, sales of teddy bears increased phenomenal. The original teddy bear had internal rods for arms, legs and head movements. Later a cuddlier version was made with internal discs for the limbs and a ball joint for the head.

To distinguish their product from the many cheap goods, Steiff patented the 'Knopf im Ohr' or 'Button-in-Ear' trademark in 1904. Since that time, all Steiff animals have an embossed button in their left ear. The first buttons were blank, but from 1906 onwards, most buttons feature the Steiff name. Around and during the two world wars there was a shortage of raw materials, in which Steiff was forced to use cheaper alternatives. During the First World War, the German borders were closed. The Steiff employees then made military equipment such as gas masks and hand grenade handles. Between the two world wars, the market revived again, with as high point the acquisition of the Disney license for Mickey and Minnie Mouse in 1930. During the Second World War, materials and manpower were so scarce that production had to be stopped. It was 1946 before Steiff resumed production with a ten-item line of stuffed toys. During the Allied occupation of Germany after World War II, toys had a special "U.S. Zone tag" in the arm seam.

Teddy bears evolved rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s, to meet changing tastes. Shorter limbs, rounder faces, softer bodies and modern materials characterize the post-war creations. In the next few decades, Steiff's range of plush animals grew with familiar and exotic species. Late 1990s, the range included nearly 15,000 different stuffed animals. See a photo report of our trip to the factory of Steiff in Giengen. Trademarks [1] - [2] The 'button in ear' trademark was first introduced in 1904, which originally had an elephant in relief on it [1]. In 1905 the Steiff ear button was patented, and the elephant was dropped for the company's name. From 1908-1909 a material label was added [2], and from 1926 a paper label on the chest of the Teddy Bear. Did you know that... Steiff had his own board game in 2002. In 2008 Steiff made a special teddy bear, designed by Karl Lagerfeld , it looks exactly like its creator.

Together with Swarovski , Steiff made some excellent jewellery. Teddy bear examples left: year: 1905, height: 16"/41cm, a cinnamon coloured, very valuable Teddy Bear with middle seam. middle: year: 1909, height: 16"/41cm, name: Edelweiss, has a metal ear button on relief. right: year: ±1950, height: 11"/28cm, a Steiff Zotty from the fifties, very popular with collectors. left: year: 1903, height: 15"/38cm, name: Christian Gabriel, this bear has a metal frame inside and is one of the most sought after Steiff-bears. middle: year: ±1905,height: 27"/70cm, very rare, because of his soft stuffing. right: year: ±1905, height: 16"/40cm, popular Steiff-bear with middle-seam. Steiff teddy bear prices Steiff teddy bears are popular with collectors.

Very old teddy bears from around 1910, but also newer bears make good prices at auction. For an impression if your old teddy is worth anything, we have put together a list of some Steiff teddy bears and their value. Click here for teddy bears from 1906 - 1909 or 1910 - 1929 . Steiff History of the Steiff Button & Chest Tags The Steiff "Button in Ear" trademark is the soul of the product. Franz Steiff Franz Steiff, one of Margarete's nephews and the company's chief technician, invented the "Button in Ear" in 1904. From 1st November 1904 onwards, a metal button embossed with an elephant was attached to every Steiff product. An ingenious idea, that has essentially remained unchanged right through to the present day and, as well as being a trademark, is also regarded as being a mark of absolute top quality. The "first" button A world-famous trademark was born - Steiff "Button in Ear".

The term "Button in Ear" was registered as a trademark on 20th December 1904 and patented on 13th May 1905. The "Button in Ear" was then supplemented by a fabric tag with the product number printed on it in 1908/09. A trademark allows us to identify the origin of an article. Although only slight changes have been made to the button over the years, these were sufficient to offer today's Steiff animal collectors a means of determining the approximate date of a particular animal's manufacture. The various types of button are shown below, with reference to typical representatives of the respective periods: 1904/05 Button unchanged since 1986 The button remains unchanged. The front face of the button remains unchanged. Modern technology is now used for the concealed rivet joint. In the anniversary year 2004, all replicas and limited-edition articles feature a gold-plated button bearing the elephant motif,ï¿½. ï¿½while "Bear 43 PAB 1904" boasts a stainless steel elephant button.

The specially-designed Margarete Steiff Edition products feature a button made of brushed stainless steel and embossed with the initials MS, plus the black ear tag with silver lettering. Note: Blank Buttons are used for SECONDS (like clothing seconds that have the label cut) rejected in the Quality Control Program. These can be found on the market so be careful and demand only The Best as seconds will not retain value. Note: The exact date of an item cannot be determined with the reference to the button alone, as the various techniques overlapped. This means, for example, that older buttons were fitted while others were being produced. The quoted dates must therefore be used as orientation aids and may not be regarded as being an absolute means of ascertaining the age of an article. In 1926, pendants, made of card, were also tied round the neck of all products. These changed in appearance over the years. Pendant A Guide to Steiff Bears - ArtiFact :: Free Encyclopedia of Everything Art, Antiques & Collectibles A Guide to Steiff Bears 4 years ago Steiff is a German-based plush toy company known for its high quality and equally high prices.

It was begun in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, who was later assisted by her brother Fritz. Steiff produced black bears after the Titanic disaster Margarete Steiff contracted polio as a baby, leaving her wheelchair bound. Finding employment as a seamstress, she started making stuffed animals as a hobby. These toys began as elephants, which were originally a design Steiff found in a magazine and sold as pincushions to her friends. However, children began playing with them, and in the years following she went on to design many other successful animal-themed toys for children, such as dogs, cats and pigs. She designed and made most of the prototypes herself. Margarete Steiff The Steiff’s nephew Richard joined in 1897 and gave the company an enormous boost in popularity by creating the teddy bear in 1902. In 1907, Steiff manufactured 974,000 bears, and has been increasing its output ever since. The Steiff company motto, as styled by Margarete Steiff, is “Only the best is good enough for children”. Steiff products are subject to meticulous testing and inspection.

They are required to be highly flame resistant and, among other things, smaller pieces such as eyes must be able to resist considerable tension, wear and tear, etc. The most common materials used in Steiff toys are alpaca, felt, mohair, and woven plush. Eyes are generally made of wood or glass, and the stuffing is commonly wood shavings or polyester fibers. A large amount of the work is done by hand, from design sketches to airbrushed paint. The final touch on any Steiff toy is the trademark “button in ear” (assuming the animal has one; in any case they’ll find a spot for it). The famed “button in ear” was devised by Margarete’s nephew Franz in 1904, to keep counterfeits from being passed off as authentic Steiff toys. It is metal and originally had the symbol of an elephant, later replaced by the name “Steiff”. The button is still used to distinguish Steiff toys from fakes. Some special toys have both the elephant and the name. Margarete Steiff died of pneumonia in Giengen in 1909.

The teddy bear toy was first created in 1902 and was named after the then president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Historians agree the teddy bear got its name when ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt, as the 26th president was nicknamed, was on a hunting trip in Mississippi. The president failed to make a kill and so his hosts caught a bear, presenting it to him as a target. He refused to shoot it, saying: “Spare the bear”. At the same time Steiff began making a soft plush, jointed bear – with a trademark button in the left ear. In 1903, the company exported 3,000 bears to America. Steiff was always the most expensive and is consequently the most valuable now. In fact, the jointed bear is not modelled on the grizzly – but on the barribal bear, a golden bear with long arms and pronounced snout. Stieff Bears are very collectable and can fetch huge amounts. Everyone has nostalgic memories about their bears! World’s Most Expensive Teddy Bears This $2.1 million Steiff’s Louis Vuitton Bear is the most expensive teddy bear ever sold at any auction.

The bear was made by a well-known German toy company Steiff. The bear is dress with all Louis Vuitton from head to toe. Jessie Kim of Korea bought this Steiff bear, and now this bear is housed at Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju, Korea. How are Steiff Teddy bears made? Air Brushing a bear Manufacturing is much more than just a euphonious term for us. We have taken up the cause of filing this term with life – according to the tradition and in the spirit of the founder of Steiff, Margarete Steiff. Because where things are created by hand, there is always alot of creativity, energy, ability, experience, enthusiasm for the little details, dexterity and instinctive feeling at work. Hand made with lots of love – love of detail and love of the finished product itself. It is exactly this enthusiasm for the beautiful things in life, the extraordinary, the desire for perfection that you will feel when you hold one of our animals in your hands and stroke its soft fur. Each of our animals tells his own individual story. It tells of his soft, comical or even untamed, wild, role models in nature.

It tells his own personal story of his creation from a bold vision, to an initial idea, from his first birthday as a sample animal, of fine materials, precious wool felt and cuddly plush, of finest alpaca and mohair. It tells of the moment in which it received its unmistakable character – the loving, intricate handicraft with which its realistic-looking eyes are applied and the friendly facial features that are the result when the nose, mouth and claws are stitched by hand. It seems as if time stands still for just a moment when you meet your new friend by Steiff for the very first time and it smiles at you with a curious, friendly smile. You might even spontaneously return that smile – because it makes you happy and may even bring back memories you thought had been lost forever. What are Steiff Teddy bears made from? Alpaca – The gold of the Incas The luxurious wool from the fur of the alpaca is the warmest and thickest natural fibre that exists. Many years ago, Steiff discovered the exclusive alpaca with its incomparable quality and lasting value for production of wonderful Steiff products as it embodies aesthesia and sensuousness at the same time.

Thanks to natural unsurpassable qualities, Steiff animals and Teddy bears retain their longlasting beauty and with their unique silky-soft tuft, they are always “love at first touch”. Mohair – A masterpiece of nature Silky smooth, lustrous, gentle softness that invites you to touch and feel: all of these are characteristics of mohair. It is a facinating natural fibre obtained from the very long, curly and sumptuous white fur of the angora goat – one of the most valuable races of goats in the world. A precious and long-lastingly beautiful fibre that has been used since 1901 to make Steiff animals and Teddy bears with wonderfully lustrous, thick and velvety-feeling fur that is a pleasure to both big and small Steiff friends. Woven fur soft to the touch A Steiff animal owes its lifelike character to its incomparably real and natural-feeling fur made of woven fur. This is the result of the unique three-dimensional weaving technique with which the wonderfully soft woven fur is made. The thread is woven perpendicularly into the cotton backing – thus giving the charming Steiff animals the lifelike animal fur character of their real role models.

It is so delightfully soft that it entices you to cuddle them, stroke them and play with them. Plush – Perfect for baby soft skin The Steiff baby products use only the finest plush materials and with Steiff, you know your little one will be receiving the softest and most cuddly Teddy bear or animal. The Steiff plush material is perfect for a baby to snuggle up to and squeeze tightly during bedtime or when your child feels he or she just needs that extra bit of security. You’ll be safe in the knowledge that all the Steiff plush bears and animals have passed rigorous safety tests meaning you need not worry about harmful substances or skin irritations. What about toy safety? “Only the best is good enough for our children”: Over one hundred years ago, the founder of Steiff, Margarete Steiff, was dedicated to doing justice to her personal credo and later Steiff basic principle in all areas of the company. It is our goal to create not only the most beautiful and best toy animals and Teddy bears in the world but also the safest.

In order to live up to this high standard, we have developed a special quality control system to supervise the entire creative development and production process: from the initial idea for the product until the moment when a Steiff animal leaves the manufactory in Giengen. We have created the “Steiff Purity Law”. This involves the voluntary examination of our products – not those imposed by any standards – because harmful substances of any type have absolutely no place in our high-quality Steiff products. The Steiff Purity Law Steiff voluntarily avoids the use of harmful substances – beyond those of legal regulations. Steiff avoids the use of all materials which could cause allergies. Steiff uses only physiologically-harmless colours for all dyeing and colouring processes. Steiff uses only selected materials from renowned manufacturers, mainly from Germany and Europe. Steiff uses highest quality, lint-free uppers for its toy animals and Teddy bears. Steiff uses only new and safe materials for the fillings of its toy animals and Teddy bears. Steiff has clearly higher requirements of the workmanship of seams and applications than required by all international standards. Steiff produces toy animals and Teddy bears according to the sustainability principle – they are created to last for generations.

Steiff is dedicated to observing the highest level of purity during its production process – from cutting the material until the product is delivered to the customer. Steiff uses independent laboratories and institutes to consistently examine the Steiff Purity Law. What is the ‘button in the ear’ and what do the different tags mean? The Steiff factory was founded in the late 19thC in Giengen, Germany by Margarete Steiff. Steiff showed its first animals with movable limbs at the Leipzig spring trade fair of 1903. One of these was a Teddy bear called 55PB. Here we examine a large Steiff cinnamon mohair teddy bear, with underscored ‘F’ button in ear from c1905. The famous Steiff button-in-the-ear was used from 1904. This bear’s underscored ‘F’ button was used from 1905 to 1950. His long limbs, large spoon-shaped feet, hump, and shoe-button eyes identify him as a very early Steiff. His extremely appealing expression probably contributed to his high value. Cinnamon is one of the rarest colours for Steiff bears, along with white.

The colour often fades quickly if exposed to light, so good condition examples are rare. Original Collection Every Steiff animal with the world-famous trademark, the Steiff “Button in Ear”, shows that it comes from one of the best families – and every Steiff Teddy bear and Steiff animal proudly wears an ear tag as a clearly recognisable identification. Both big and small Steiff fans immediately recognise the yellow Steiff ear tag with red writing. It shows that this is one of the many, wonderful animals and Teddy bears from the wide, unlimited Steiff assortment – an unmistakable original from the famous company with a long-standing tradition. Limited Edition All the animals and Teddy bears at Steiff are very pleased to receive the extraordinary distinction of the white ear tag with red writing because these are produced in a limited edition. This means that only a limited number are available and some are available only in certain countries. Each of these limited edition Steiff animals with the white ear tag and the gold-plated “Button in Ear” also brings his new owner a certificate that ensures the authenticity and a special status as a limited edition Steiff animal. Replica The Teddy bears and animals of the replica series by Steiff are a very special and extraordinary species.

This means that these true-to-original animals are reproduced exactly according to their historic role models from the Steiff product history. All Steiff replicas have a white ear tag with black writing to document their special status and the true-to-original “Button in Ear” from the respective year of production. This outstanding distinction lets Steiff friends, fans and collectors know that this is a particularly limited edition Steiff animal with extraordinary, historic character. How to Identify Steiff Bears The Steiff bear is the quintessential toy bear collected the world over. The first Steiff bears showed up in the marketplace in 1892 and were the precursor to the beloved teddy bear we know today. Antique Steiff bears are quite collectable, so if you think you have one or are thinking of buying one, it’s a good idea to know some of the basic characteristics of authentic Steiffs before selling or buying one. Look for the metal button that is pegged into the left ear of each Steiff bear. Steiff began inserting these buttons in 1904. Over the years, the buttons have been made from a few different metals—brass, iron, nickel-plated and, for special limited edition bears, gold-plated.

A nickel plated button with no raised lettering on it denotes one of the earliest Steiff bears. Look for either cloth ear tags or tags sewn into the seam in the chest area. Depending on the tag, look for printing that says such things as “Steiff original,” “Made in Germany” and “Made in US-Zone Germany.” Some tags will have model numbers. Over the years, the tags have been a variety of colours, such as white, red, beige and yellow. Analyse the material used for the bear’s body. The really old bears were made of mohair. Since 1947, synthetic fibre has been used to construct the bodies. Check to see what the body is stuffed with. In 1904, they were stuffed with wood-wool, also known as excelsior, which is a kind of slivered wood shaving once used for packing boxes. These Steiff bears also had voice boxes. In 1960, foam rubber and artificial snow flakes started to be used for stuffing. Since 1970, soft synthetic stuffing has been used. Look at what the eyes are made off. Very old Steiff bears have old shoe button eyes from the Victorian Era.

Next came glass eyes around 1910, and since 1960 plastic eyes have been sewn on to the bears. Examine the pads and claws of the bear. The 1904 bears had felt pads and five claws. In 1906, the five claws were reduced to four per paw. Since 1976, the pads of the bears have been made with jersey knit cloth. There have been no claws added since 1970. Move the arms and legs of the bear. Steiff bears originally started out with immovable arms and legs, but later, moving joints were designed into the bears. Some of the most charming Steiff bears are those standing on all fours on iron wheels with spokes that allow them to be pulled around or ridden by very small children. Familiarise yourself with contemporary lines of the Steiff bear. There are limited and unlimited editions, miniatures and plush Steiff bears. Brand new Steiff bears can range in price from £57 all the way up to £780 each.

Tips and warnings If you already own a Steiff bear, don’t display it in direct sunlight as this can fade the material and reduce the value of the bear as an antique. Be on guard for counterfeit Steiff bears. If the bear looks too good to be true and the price seems too good of a bargain, be suspicious. Seek out a trusted professional for advice. Check the bear for insect infestations from time to time. Look for pinholes in the bear’s paw pads. If the bear is made out of mohair and starts losing hair for no reason, you might have insect trouble. If you think the bear is infested, put it in a plastic bag, seal the bag well and put it in the deep freeze for about a day. This should kill the bugs. Credits: Steiff Button In Ear: A Guide To The Famous Trademark - Steiff USA Blog Steiff USA Blog Steiff Button In Ear: A Guide To The Famous Trademark The Steiff Button in Ear November 1, 1904. That’s the day that started it all. At 7:00 a.m.

on this crisp, late autumn morning, Steiff began placing a metal “Button in Ear” in virtually all products leaving the factory in Giengen an der Brenz. The brainchild of Franz Steiff, nephew of Margarete Steiff, the button was originally introduced to separate the company’s products from those made by copycats and counterfeiters. But it soon became synonymous with legendary Steiff quality –signifying superior craftsmanship, superlative materials, and innovative design. Throughout company history, the “Button in Ear” has changed many times. It’s been made from a variety of metals from nickel to brass to gold-plated to stainless steel. Sometimes it was paired with a paper label; sometimes it stood alone. But one aspect never changed – it has always been placed in the left ear of Steiff Teddy bears and animals. A legally protected trademark world-wide, the “Button in Ear” is perhaps the most famous brand mark within the toy industry. How Old Is My Steiff? That’s one of the questions we’re asked most often at Steiff. Luckily, the “Button in Ear” can serve as a reasonably reliable guide to determining the era of production of virtually all pieces since 1904.

(It’s important to keep in mind that some pieces made it out of the Steiff factory without buttons. And old buttons were sometimes used in new items until the old stock was depleted.) As we celebrate more than 110 years of Franz Steiff’s ingenious invention , we’ve created the chart below to help collectors identify their treasures. Keep in mind that the “Button in Ear” is forever changing with the times –so won’t it be fun to discover what happens next? Steiff Teddy Bears History | Steiff Bears | Charlie Bears Hi All Gromit arrived at his new home just a few minutes ago. Very many thanks to you all at Ashby for your excellent service. He was packaged very well. We are delighted and are now awaiting for news of Wallace! Again many thanks and there is no way we would use anybody else other than your goodselves for Steiff. Mark View all Testimonials Margarete Steiff The story of Margarete Steiff is filled with fairytale quality. Margarete contracted polio when she was just 18 months old, which meant that she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

However, this spirited and courageous young lady took her life into her own hands - not allowing a disability to divert her. She learnt sewing and tailoring and soon became a very skilled seamstress. She started up her own small business, initially making ladies' and children's clothes. Little did she know, when she was working on a little fabric elephant to be used as a pincushion, that she was laying the foundation stone for the international company of the future - Margarete Steiff GmbH. Richard Steiff, nephew to Margarete, joined his aunt's company in 1897. He was to become, after his aunt, the second most influential figure in the Toy Industry and the most important figure in the history of the Teddy bear. In 1902 Richard Steiff designed the very first jointed Teddy bear, a bear gifted with movement and a bear that would take the world by storm. Thus, the company name became synonymous with high-quality soft toy animals the world over. Founded in 1880, Margarete Steiff GmbH has pursued excellence with determination, fuelled by their guiding principle "Only the best is good enough for our children".

From humble beginnings the enterprise blossomed into the world's most famous soft toy company. Today the company embraces its history, and in doing so embraces innovation, imagination and perfection. Proud of our heritage yet forward-looking and venturesome, Steiff never stops chasing dreams. The company's extraordinary and unequalled ability in bringing comfort and companionship to millions provides the perfect reason to celebrate a million occasions. Birth of a Trademark 100 years of "Button in Ear" To protect Steiff products from imitation and plagiarism, Franz Steiff, Margarete's nephew, invented the legendary "Button in Ear" in 1904, one of the first trademarks of the 20th century. Since 1 November 1904, therefore, every Steiff animal has sported the characteristic button in the left ear, which makes the products unmistakeable and unique. To prevent imitation, the term "Button in Ear" was also registered as an official trademark on 20 December 1904, and was given legal protection on 13 May 1905.

Thanks to this brilliant idea of Franz Steiff's, the Steiff "Button in Ear" brand has developed to become one of the world's oldest and most well-known brands. To pay homage to the 100th anniversary of the Steiff "Button in Ear" brand, a special collection of four Teddy bears is available - but only until the end of 2004. Each of these valuable bears sports a specific feature, an imitation of the original elephant button from 1904, in its left ear! Steiff - 100 Years of the 'Button in ear' In 1902, Steiff invented the Teddy bear and presented him to the public at the Leipzig Trade Fair in 1903. It didn't take long for the Steiff Teddy bear to become most children's favorite toy and many adults fell in love with it, too. With this tremendous success, many competitors started to copy Steiff products. Consequently, Steiff had to find a way to distinguish their creations from its competitors. There was a general agreement that a company trademark was needed, that had to be permanently attached to the products.

Up until this point in time little cardboard tags were used, fastened to the body or the clothing of animals and dolls showing an elephant with a trunk raised in the shape of an "S" for Steiff. As these labels could be torn off without difficulty, Franz Steiff, one of Margarete Steiff's nephews, wanted a more permanent trademark and invented the "Button in Ear". Steiff - the elephant button After several alternatives had been tested, a metal button embossed with the elephant having an S-shaped trunk was finally chosen and attached to the left ear of every product. The new trademark was born and the "Button in Ear" has been firmly fixed to all Steiff products since November 1, 1904. An application for registration of the "Button in Ear" trademark was submitted on December 20, 1904 and the registration was confirmed in writing on May 13, 1905. The metal button with the elephant design was only used in 1904 and 1905 and was thereafter replaced by blank buttons and buttons with the word "Steiff".

As the elephant button was in use for such a short time only, items bearing this trademark are considered a great rarity today. Check out the full range of Steiff products including baby safe items, to adult collectable pieces. Items: A Steiff “Button in Ear” Primer A Steiff “Button in Ear” Primer January 7, 2014 by Brenda Mize, Owner, Beacon's Glow Collectibles The Steiff “Button in Ear” (or “Knopf-im-Ohr”) trademark truly distinguishes each and every teddy bear and plush animal as a symbol of ultimate quality for toys. The “Button In Ear” trademark was invented in 1904 by Franz Steiff, nephew of founder Margarete Steiff. It was designed to distinguish Steiff bears from all others. Since 1904, each and every piece that Steiff has produced has the Steiff trademark button attached to its left ear. To differentiate between Steiff’s various collections, each teddy bear and animal produced wears a distinctively colored tag as well as metal embossed button. For example: • Original Collection: comprised of a yellow Steiff ear tag with red writing and brass embossed button.

Easily recognizable as an authentic Steiff Teddy Bear or Steiff animal. • Limited Edition: comprised of a white ear tag with red writing and gold-plated embossed button. Recognized by Steiff collectors as a piece from a limited edition. • Replica: comprised of a white ear tag with black writing and silver-plated embossed button. These replica animals are reproduced exactly according to Steiff’s historic role models from the past. In 1904 all buttons were blank, and for a short timeframe, the Steiff corporate elephant could be seen on the button. But it was not until 1906 when just about all buttons featured the word “Steiff”. On occasion reproductions of earlier models replicate the exact trademark button originally given to the item. References: 1. Pfeiffer Gunther (2001) 100 Years Steiff Teddy Bears. Koelbin-Fortuna-Druck GmbH: Baden/Germany. 2. Margarete Steiff GmbH ( ) Add Steiff Gift Box Size 4 - $5.99 Product Description teiff Teddies come in so many styles, sizes, and colors -- it's hard to choose just one!

But we're especially fond of our Knuffi Teddy, a sweet little bear with bright eyes, a charming smile, and a cuddly soft coat. He's softly stuffed to make him extra huggable. Sewn from the finest knitted brown-colored plush, Knuffi is machine washable and ultra-durable.He's ready for years of imaginative play. From the company that invented the Teddy bear in 1902. With the world famous "Button in Ear" trademark, symbol of highest quality. | Material: Made of cuddly soft plush Size: 11.0 inches Ear tag: Yellow tag; brass-plated "Button in Ear" Joints & Pose: Not jointed Steiff Teddy Bear | Steiff Stuffed Animals | German Teddy Bears Steiff Teddy Bear | Steiff Stuffed Animals | German Teddy Bears Steiff's Largest Authorized Shop in the Southwest USA Margarete Steiff founded Steiff in 1880. The Steiff Bears Button in Ear trademark truly distinguishes each and every teddy bear and plush animal as a symbol of ultimate quality. All Steiff is hand-made in Germany.

Beacon's Glow Collectibles is proud to be a USA Best of America Steiff retailer as well as the only authorized Steiff retailer in the state of Texas. A more in-depth history of Steiff and its founder, Margarete Steiff written by Brenda Mize, Owner of Beacon's Glow Collectibles. Sort By: Pinterest In business since 2003, Beacon's Glow Collectibles carries many manufacturers' lines of fine collectible dolls and teddy bears. Bear and plush animal manufacturers include: Charlie Bears; Clemens Bears; Steiff Bears; Minky Bears and Kaycee Bears. Predominant doll manufacturers include: Eyes of Texas Dolls; Erika Catellani Dolls; Lorella Falconi Dolls and Madame Alexander Dolls. Additionally, a large selection of Jim Shore Figurines are available to include both Disney Traditions and Jim Shore Heartwood Creek, as well as Snowbabies by Department 56. Also offered are the very popular Department 56 Villages. Beacon's Glow Collectibles is committed to offering customers a wide variety of collectible dolls, bears, and figurines at competitive prices, and our mantra regarding customer service is to treat customers exactly like we would like to be treated.

Beacon's Glow Collectibles - 217 Settlers Valley Drive, Pflugerville, TX 78660 Phone: (512) 990-9881 Steiff Steiff Hi All Gromit arrived at his new home just a few minutes ago. Very many thanks to you all at Ashby for your excellent service. He was packaged very well. We are delighted and are now awaiting for news of Wallace! Again many thanks and there is no way we would use anybody else other than your goodselves for Steiff. Mark Steiff About Steiff Steiff are the most famous name of all teddy bears. Founded in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, they celebrate their 135th anniversary in 2015. Several old Steiff bears have been sold at auction for record breaking figures over the last 12 years, with the now famous 'Teddy girl' fetching a record breaking £110,000. Several bears have since surpassed this figure. Steiff are not only famous for Teddy bears, as toys and animals have always played a big part in the Steiff company since the company began.

The high quality of Steiff products still remains in all of their products, from the keyrings at just £7.99 right up to the popular classic teddy bears, animals and limited edition pieces. Shown, is the 2012 Limited Edition Steiff British Collectors Bear . Margarete Steiff The story of Margarete Steiff is filled with fairytale quality. Margarete contracted polio when she was just 18 months old, which meant that she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. However, this spirited and courageous young lady took her life into her own hands - not allowing a disability to divert her. She learnt sewing and tailoring and soon became a very skilled seamstress. She started up her own small business, initially making ladies' and children's clothes. Little did she know, when she was working on a little fabric elephant to be used as a pincushion, that she was laying the foundation stone for the international company of the future - Margarete Steiff GmbH. Richard Steiff, nephew to Margarete, joined his aunt's company in 1897.

He was to become, after his aunt, the second most influential figure in the Toy Industry and the most important figure in the history of the Teddy bear. In 1902 Richard Steiff designed the very first jointed Teddy bear, a bear gifted with movement and a bear that would take the world by storm. Thus, the company name became synonymous with high-quality soft toy animals the world over. Founded in 1880, Margarete Steiff GmbH has pursued excellence with determination, fuelled by their guiding principle "Only the best is good enough for our children". From humble beginnings the enterprise blossomed into the world's most famous soft toy company. Today the company embraces its history, and in doing so embraces innovation, imagination and perfection. Proud of our heritage yet forward-looking and venturesome, Steiff never stops chasing dreams. The company's extraordinary and unequalled ability in bringing comfort and companionship to millions provides the perfect reason to celebrate a million occasions.

Birth of a Trademark 100 years of "Button in Ear" To protect Steiff products from imitation and plagiarism, Franz Steiff, Margarete's nephew, invented the legendary "Button in Ear" in 1904, one of the first trademarks of the 20th century. Since 1 November 1904, therefore, every Steiff animal has sported the characteristic button in the left ear, which makes the products unmistakeable and unique. To prevent imitation, the term "Button in Ear" was also registered as an official trademark on 20 December 1904, and was given legal protection on 13 May 1905. Thanks to this brilliant idea of Franz Steiff's, the Steiff "Button in Ear" brand has developed to become one of the world's oldest and most well-known brands. To pay homage to the 100th anniversary of the Steiff "Button in Ear" brand, a special collection of four Teddy bears is available - but only until the end of 2004. Each of these valuable bears sports a specific feature, an imitation of the original elephant button from 1904, in its left ear!

Steiff - 100 Years of the 'Button in ear' In 1902, Steiff invented the Teddy bear and presented him to the public at the Leipzig Trade Fair in 1903. It didn't take long for the Steiff Teddy bear to become most children's favorite toy and many adults fell in love with it, too. With this tremendous success, many competitors started to copy Steiff products. Consequently, Steiff had to find a way to distinguish their creations from its competitors. There was a general agreement that a company trademark was needed, that had to be permanently attached to the products. Up until this point in time little cardboard tags were used, fastened to the body or the clothing of animals and dolls showing an elephant with a trunk raised in the shape of an "S" for Steiff. As these labels could be torn off without difficulty, Franz Steiff, one of Margarete Steiff's nephews, wanted a more permanent trademark and invented the "Button in Ear". Steiff - the elephant button After several alternatives had been tested, a metal button embossed with the elephant having an S-shaped trunk was finally chosen and attached to the left ear of every product.

The new trademark was born and the "Button in Ear" has been firmly fixed to all Steiff products since November 1, 1904. An application for registration of the "Button in Ear" trademark was submitted on December 20, 1904 and the registration was confirmed in writing on May 13, 1905. The metal button with the elephant design was only used in 1904 and 1905 and was thereafter replaced by blank buttons and buttons with the word "Steiff". As the elephant button was in use for such a short time only, items bearing this trademark are considered a great rarity today. Check out the full range of Steiff products including baby safe items, to adult collectable pieces.

Question: Teddy Bears with a trademark button in the ear are made by which company?
Answer: STEIFF